Chelsea prioritised trophies, Man United focused on commercial interests - Matic

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has made a bold claim ahead of Lyon’s Europa League clash with his old club, suggesting that Chelsea had a far stronger winning culture than United during his time there.

Speaking to The Athletic, Matic reflected on the contrasting atmospheres at the two English giants. According to the Serbian, while Chelsea had a trophy-driven mentality under former owner Roman Abramovich, United appeared to be more focused on commercial activities than on-field success.

"At Chelsea, everything was about the result and winning trophies. Even the man who cut the grass shared that spirit," Matic said. "Roman Abramovich would only ask us about results. But at United, it felt more commercial-minded. I realised this after a few months—there wasn’t the same hunger for trophies."

The 35-year-old, who now plies his trade at Lyon, also revealed that he did significantly more commercial work at United than he ever did at Chelsea, adding that he arrived at Old Trafford "with the anger to win trophies" but eventually felt that "trophies were not the focus."

Matic’s remarks may resonate with many United fans frustrated by the club’s struggles in recent years. While he enjoyed relatively stable success at United compared to its current form, his comments add fuel to ongoing criticisms that the club has prioritised profits over performance.

Manchester United will face Matic’s Lyon side in the Europa League quarter-finals, with the first leg set for Thursday in France and the return fixture at Old Trafford next week. For United, the Europa League represents their last shot at silverware this season.